Laying threads between and across knitted fabric



Oct. 24, 1967 A. J. PLATNICK LAYING THREADS BETWEEN AND ACROSS KNITTED FABRIC Original Filed Feb. 6

4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ABRAHAM J. PLAT/war XL? ATTOPNE Y Oct. 24, 1967 A. .J. PLATNEQCK 3 I LAYING THREADS BETWEEN AND ACROSS KNITTED FABRIC Original Filed Feb. 6, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

\ ABRAHAM J. PLATNICK [ii-MU I} a? M!" n 1' 2W ATTORNEY j A. J. PLATNICK 3,348,389

LAYING THREADS BETWEEN AND ACROSS KNITTED FABRIC 4 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Feb. 6, 1963 R Q K V Nw Q Ob Nb .8 RT Nw INVENTOR. ABRAHAM J'- PLATN/CH BY A TTOPNEY Oct. 24, 1967 A. J. PLATNICK 3,348,389

LAYING THREADS BETWEEN AND ACROSS KNITTED FABRIC Original Filed Feb. 6, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 an j) l I I v INVENTOR. ABRAHAM I. PZ/ITNICK BY 5 W0 A TTOP/VEY United States Patent 3,348,389 LAYING THREADS BETWEEN AND ACRGSS KNITTED FABRIC Abraham J. Platnick, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to Cavalier Mills, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 256,698, Feb. 6,

1963. This application Mar. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 537,385

1%) Claims. (Cl. 66-I28) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and machine for laying pattern or additional yarns between, and moving such yarns across, a knitted fabric on a multi-bed, flat bed or V-bed knitting machine having a moving cam carriage in which the pattern yarns are selectively inlaid between and across the knitted fabric by means of feeder tubes which are individually mounted on control rods positioned for longitudinal movement parallel to the beds of the knitting machine. Movement of the control rods, feeder tubes and pattern yarns is controlled by operating means, which may consist of link chains comprising pattern and timing means for such selective and appropriate timed movement thereof.

The present invention relates to a method and machine for laying pattern or additional yarns between, and moving such yarns across, a knitted fabric and is a continua tion of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 256,698, filed Feb. 6, 1963.

Heretofore it has been the practice to lay an additional or pattern yarn between a knitted fabric by hand and, de pending upon the position of the laid yarn, and the man ner in which it is drawn across the fabric, a pattern is formed. The difliculties inherent in such hand procedures are well known and include inaccuracies in pattern design, limitations on quality and quantity, excessive cost and lack of skilled labor.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a wholly automatic machine and method whereby a pattern yarn may be laid between and across a knitted fabric.

The present invention further provides a machine and method whereby a pattern yarn or yarns may be laid between and across a knitted fabric in a precisely predetermined pattern and design.

The present invention still further provides a machine and method whereby a pattern yarn or yarns may be laid between and across a knitted fabric, continuously and without interruption for an indefinite and unlimited period of time during which a particular predetermined pattern is cyclically and repeatedly created and recreated without change or alteration of such pattern.

The present invention also provides a machine and method whereby a pattern yarn or yarns may be laid between and across a knitted fabric in an unlimited number of different patterns and designs and permits patterns and designs to be created as desired or needed.

The present invention furthermore provides a machine and method whereby a pattern yarn or yarns are laid between and across a knitted fabric at the time and at the particular point of knitting.

The present invention generally, and not by way of limitation, comprises a control mechanism used in conjunction with standard types of flat bed, V-bed, straight or other multi-bed knitting machines having moving carriages for controlling the position of pattern yarn feeding mechanisms in relation to position and time of knitting of the basic fabric.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the present invention attached to a standard knitting machine partially shown.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a top fragmentary view of the control rods of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view as taken across line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view as taken across line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the link sprocket of the present invention showing links of varying heights positioned thereon.

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a modified embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with a standard knitting machine shown in phantom.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of an example of a knitted fabric having additional threads laid in a pattern between and across the fabric.

Referring to the drawing, a standard type of flat bed, V-bed or other multi-b'ed knitting machine '10 has a plurality of needles which slide in the bed when so actuated by a cam carriage 12 which traverses the length of the knitting bed at a predetermined cyclic speed. Located above the knitting bed, longitudinally parallel thereto and extending the entire length thereof are shown two control rods 14 and 16. Any number of such control rods may be employed. Mounted upon control rod 14 are shown two feeder tubes 18 and 18a; similarly, on control rod 16 are mounted feeder tubes 20 and 20a. Each such feeder tubes is attached to its control rod in a predetermined location and extends downwardly toward the needle bed of knitting machine Iii. Any number of such feeder tubes may be employed.

Control rods 14 and 16 extend beyond one end of knitting machine 10 and are pivotally attached to levers 22 and 24, respectively, by pivot attachments 26 and 28, also respectively. Levers 22 and 24 pivot about a common axis 30. Each lever is individually urged rearwardly by the combined action of a counterweight 32 and a spring 34, there being one counterweight 32 and one spring 34 for each lever 22 or .24. Rearwardly is defined to be counterclockwise motion or motion of the upper part of each lever 22 or 24 to the left as seen in FIGURE 1. Conversely, forwardly is clockwise motion or motion thereof to the right as seen in FIGURE 1. Therefore, as seen in FIGURES 14, lever 22 is forward of lever 24.

Lever 22 is moved forwardly by a first series of links 38 mounted circumferentially on a knuckle sprocket 36. Between the series of links 38 and lever 22 is a double roller follower 40 which provides roller contact to links 38 on the one hand and a bearing surface 42 on lever 22 on the other hand. Similarly, lever 24 is moved forwardly by a second series of links 48 mounted circumferentially on link sprocket 36 acting through a double roller follower 50 and a bearing surface 52. A side view of a link sprocket with a single series of links of graduated heights mounted circumferentially thereon is shown in FIGURE 6. In normal practice links of greatly differing heights may be placed adjacent one another giving a more irregular circumference than is shown in FIGURE 6.

Link sprocket 36 is secured to a shaft and turns therewith. Also secured to shaft 60 is a rachet gear 62 which is engaged and actuated by a pawl 64. Pawl 64 freely rotates on a shaft 66 which is secured to a crank 68. Crank 68 and a collar 70 which is part thereof rotate freely about shaft 64). A crank-arm 72 propelled by an oif-center mount 74 on a chain driven wheel 76 moves crank 68 back and forth through a certain degree of rotation about shaft 60.

Shaft 66 has a second pawl 78 which engages and actuates a second rachet gear 80. Second rachet gear 80 is secured to and rotates a chain link sprocket 82 by means of a counter-shaft 84 which is co-axial with shaft 60.

Chain link sprocket 82 drives a chain of links 86 having links of two sizeshigh and low.

The operation of the invention is generally as follows:

Chain driven wheel 76 is continuously rotated in timed relation to the cycles of cam carriage 12 such that crank 68 is pulled forward when cam carriage 12 is at an extreme end of the knitting bed and is reversing its direction of travel. Crank 68, by means of shaft 66, second pawl '78, second rachet gear 80 and chain link sprocket 82, pulls link chain 86 a distance equal to the length of any one of the links in the chain, all links being the same length. Depending upon the sequence of links in the chain, a matter which is entirely variable, either a high link or a low link is presented beneath an extension post 88 extending from pawl 64. If a high link is presented, it rotates post 88 and pawl 64 about shaft 66 away from rachet gear 62; pawl 64 therefore does not engage rachet gear 62 and, on the next forward motion of crank 68 and shaft 66, rachet gear 62 including shaft 60 and link sprocket 36 do not rotate. If a low link is presented, post 88 is not rotated away from rachet gear 62, pawl 64 of its own weight is engaged with rachet gear 62 and, on the next forward motion of crank 68 and shaft 66, rachet gear 62 including shaft 60 and link sprocket 36 rotate an amount equal to the distance between adjacent links in each series thereof on link sprocket 36. As link sprocket 36 rotates a new link in link series 38 is presented to double roller follower 40 and lever 22 and, depending upon the height of that link as compared to the preceding one, lever 22 either remains in place, moves forward or moves rear ward. The forward or rearward motion of lever 22 about axis 30 moves control rod 14 longitudinally a distance which is controlled by the height of the link bearing against double roller follower 40 as multiplied by the action of lever 22. The same operation with respect to second link series 48, double roller follower i), lever 24 and control rod 16 simultaneously occurs. a

It is therefore clear that, with the cyclic movement of cam carriage 12 and depending upon the sequence of links in link chain 86 and the sequence of links on link sprocket 36, feeder tubes 18, 18a, 20 and 20a are constantlymoving longitudinally of the knitting bed, stopping at predetermined locations thereabove and remaining in those locations as long as necessary.

Feeder tubes -18, 18a, 20 and 20a feed. the pattern or additional yarns to the knitting bed at the point where knitting of the knitted fabric 90 is taking place. Their movements therefore determine the design inlaid into knitted fabric 90 with the pattern or additional yarns. It has now been made apparent that the movements of feeder tubes 18, 18a, 20 and 2th: take place when cam carriage 12 is at an end of the knitting bed, indicating that the pattern or additional yarns are drawn across knitted fabric 90 in between successive knitting operations, such operations occurring only when cam carriage 12 moves across the knitting bed and cam-actuating the knitting needles therein.

Precise positioning and a fine adjustment of feeder tubes 18, 18a, 26 and 26a above the knitting bed is accomplished by set screws 92, 92a, 94 and 94a located between control rod 14 and lever 22 and control rod 16 and lever 24, respectively. These set screws compensate for the changes in angle between each lever and its respective control rod as each lever moves forwardly or rearwardlly as described. An adjustable framework 96 across which link chain 86 is drawn is provided to maintain said link chain 86 in a taut configuration. Adjustable pulleys 98 may be moved on said framework 96 for this purpose. In many cases, link chain 86 is relatively lengthy. A spring loaded pin 97 engages annularly spaced detents in rachet gear 80 to prevent rotation of rachet gear 80 at all times except when rotated by the forward motion of pawl 78 with crank 68. Secondary bars 14a and 16a each secured beneath and parallel to control bars 14 and 16, respectively, maintain the alignment of said control bars during their longitudinal travels.

A modified embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 7 in which link chains 138 and 148 are drawn around link sprockets 136 and 136a to permit a larger number of links to be used in each such chain. It should be noted, however, that the necessity of using a large number of links is generally obviated by the basic embodiment above described in which link sprocket 36 turns only when link chain 86 permits pawl 64 to engage rachet gear 62.

While the foregoing is illustrative of preferred and modified embodiments of the invention, it.will be understood that other embodiments and other forms may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claims. a

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine, comprising:

(a) a moving cam carriage;

(b) control rods, said control rods being movably positioned parallel to the beds of the knitting machine;

(0) feeder tubes for the pattern yarns, said feeder tubes being individually mounted on said control rods and being located adjacent the beds of the knitting machine; and

((1) operating means, said operating means selectively moving said control rods and said feeder tubes mounted thereon relative to the movement of said moving cam carriage,

whereby said pattern yarns are selectively inlaid between and across the knitted fabric.

2. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said operating means includes:

(a) pattern means, said pattern means controlling the positioning of said control rods and said feeder tubes in relation to the beds of the knitting machine; and

(b) timing means, said timing means controlling the time of movements of said control rods and said feeder tubes to be in timed relation to the movements of said moving cam carriage.

3. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said pattern means includes:

(a) a plurality of links, said links being fastened to each other to form an endless chain, and said links being provided in two sizes, to wit, high and low;

(b) a ratchet gear;

(c) a pivoted pawl, said pawl normally engaging said ratchet gear, said pawl having an extension which is located adjacent a link of said link chain, said extension being pivoted by a high link away from its normal position so as to disengage said pawl from said ratchet gear and said extension not being pivoted by a low link such that said pawl remains in its normal position engaged with said ratchet gear; and

(d) a crank, said crank rotating said pawl, said link chain and, when said pawl is engaged with said ratchet gear.

4. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein said pattern means additionally includes:

(a) a plurality of links, said links being provided in a variety of heights;

(b) a sprocket, said links being removably secured to said sprocket in a desired sequence of heights to form a continuous ring thereof;

(0) a rotatable shaft, said sprocket and said ratchet gear each being secured to said shaft and rotatable as a unit therewith; and

(d) movement multiplying means, said movement multiplying means connecting between a given link on said sprocket on the one hand and one of said control rods on the other hand, whereby, upon rotation of said ratchet gear, said sprocket rotates and a given link moves said control rod a distance in accordance with the height of said given link as multiplied by said movement multiplying means.

5. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein said movement multiplying means includes:

(a) a link follower, said link follower being in engagement with a given knuckle on said sprocket; and

(b) a lever, said lever being in contact with said follower and bein pivotally secured to one of said control rods.

6. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 5, wherein said movement multiplying means further includes compensating and adjusting means, said compensating means securing said lever to one of said control rods to provide precise positioning of said feeder tubes in relation to the beds of the knitting machine.

7. A machine for inl-aying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein said timing means includes:

(a) a crank arm, said crank arm being connected to said crank; and

(b) driving means, said driving means being connected to said crank arm and periodically rotating said crank.

8. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 7, wherein said driving means includes a driving chain, said driving chain being driven from the knitting machine in timed relation to the movements of said moving cam carriage and said driving chain driving crank arm.

9. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein said movement multiplying means is provided for each of said control rods.

10. A machine for inlaying pattern yarns between and across a knitted fabric for use in conjunction with a V-bed knitting machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said pattern means includes:

(a) a ratchet gear;

(b) a pivoted pawl, said pawl being in engagement with said ratchet gear;

(0) a crank, said crank being attached to said pawl;

(d) a crank arm, said crank arm being connected to said crank;

(e) driving means, said driving means including a driving chain, said driving chain being driven from the knitting machine in timed relation to the movements of said moving cam carriage, said driving means being connected to said crank arm and periodically rotating said crank;

(f) a plurality of links, said links being fastened to each other to form an endless chain, said links being provided in a variety of heights;

(g) a sprocket, said link chain extending around said sprocket and being rotated therewith;

(h) a rotatable shaft, said sprocket and said ratchet gear each being secured to said shaft and rotatable as a unit therewith; and

(i) movement multiplying means, said movement multiplying means connecting between a given link on said sprocket on the one hand and one of said control rods on the other hand,

whereby, upon rotation of said ratchet gear, said sprocket rotates and a given link moves said control rod a distance in accordance with the height of said given link as multiplied by said movement multiplying means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,379 11/1901 Mills 66-155 1,008,752 11/ 1911 Stonehrel 66-155 X 1,547,501 7/1925 Lack et al 66-129 1,564,438 12/ 1925 Muller 66-129 2,463,639 3/ 1949 Peberdy 66-155 2,529,207 11/ 1950 Wolley 66-128 2,688,860 9/ 1954 Lambach 66-86 2,997,868 8/1961 Engelhard 66-136 3,099,920 8/ 1963 Liebrandt et al 66-86 FOREIGN PATENTS 540,251 12/ 1931 Germany.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. R, FELIQBAUM, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A MACHINE FOR INLAYING PATTERN YARNS BETWEEN AND ACROSS A KNITTED FABRIC FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A V-BED KNITTING MACHINE, COMPRISING: (A) A MOVING CAM CARRIAGE; (B) CONTROL RODS, SAID CONTROL RODS BEING MOVABLY POSITIONED PARALLEL TO THE BEDS OF THE KNITTING MACHINE; (C) FEEDER PARALLEL TO THE BEDS OF THE KNITTING MACHINE; BEING INDIVIDUALLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONTROL RODS AND BEING LOCATED ADJACENT THE BEDS OF THE KNITTING MACHINE; AND (D) OPERATING MEANS, SAID OPERATING MEANS SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID CONTROL RODS AND SAID FEEDER TUBES MOUNTED THEREON RELATIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVING CAM CARRIAGE, WHEREBY SAID PATTERN YARNS ARE SELECTIVELY INLAID BETWEEN AND ACROSS THE KNITTED FABRIC. 